Rejection, surgery, recovery.  It all seems so long ago now.

Changes afoot: I decided early on that being a professional arborist is not a career I especially enjoy, since working with people (especially city folk) and the environment is what enlivens me. A few weeks ago I saw an ad for an educator position at Bartram's Garden, and I applied, interviewed, and got the job. The tricky part is that it is a part-time/seasonal position, so I was super-excited to be doing the work that I enjoy but freaking out on the inside about finances. But when I finally talked to my current boss about returning to arborist work, I proposed coming back part-time so that I could still make enough money to keep our lil' ship afloat. He was fine with the idea, and so for the next few months I will be working every day. That's right: 7days a week. Ouch. But some work "days" are only a few hours long, so I think I'll be able to handle it.  I hope, anyway.  The work at Bartram's is fun, the people are amazing, and it mostly doesn't feel like work. But before I launch into my new occupation, here's what I've been doing with myself:

I went to Nashville for two weeks, during which I strolled around the Opryland Hotel Atrium with the fam.

Sharon and I came back to Philadelphia, where among other things we checked out the maple sugar festival at Fox Chase Farm. This horse was the best part.

We went across the mighty Delaware River into Jersey and explored a park. A park with a pipe.

I bought a really great watch that apparently is so reliable and easy to use that it has a steady fan base in the IED-making crowd. That's what Amazon said, anyway; I have no idea if it's true. Obviously.

I went on a Zoe-Strauss-billboard-viewing ride with Trophy Bikes.

I went to the Blueberry Capitol of the World (Hammonton, NJ) to get our lonely blueberry bush some friends. At $5 a piece, and a nice drive to boot, we're in.  

I walked around Bartram's Garden and familiarized myself with the plants.  Can't wait for this one!

I got a laser pointer to point out tree branches and such.

And last but not least, I got cleared from the doctor to go back to work.  Here goes!

Over the shoulder.

Contrary to rumor, our blog is not dead but has been in hibernation mode. We've been busy finishing an incredibly hectic semester (I submitted seven PhD applications!), traveling to Paraguay for field research (more on that soon), working at least two jobs apiece, and trying to spend time with friends and family (when not eating or sleeping: see above).

Over the past year we did manage to blog about some of the highlights of 2011, including my day trip to Memphis:

the ongoing improvements in the sideyard and our adventures in gardening:

 

 
 and my youngest brother's wedding  (hooray!).

 

We did not find time to blog about our around-town adventures:

  

 That's Bryan at an art show, contributing to a  zine about handwriting.

Our picking/harvesting/foraging/collecting/eating:

 

We may have mentioned food a time or two, but just look at that! Nothing

makes you miss July on a 20-degree day like gallons of fresh blueberries... 

 many good times with family:

the miles and miles of [uphill] biking we've done:

or the fermentation workshop with Sandor Katz (!) I attended in November.

 Yes, it was amazing! And I scored a Nashville kambucha starter

along with my portion of that vat of fermenting vegetables...

2012 will be equally full as there are many changes on the horizon - most exciting, the chance that we might live together again! We'll keep you posted, I promise.

Nashville

So last weekend I had the chance to visit Sharon in Nashville, which was amazing. We checked out the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Parthenon, Dino's dive bar, and Monell's restaurant, and I met some of Sharon's div school friends. Oh, and there was a completely destructive stint in the kitchen which claimed the lives of (1) glass pie pan which exploded from sitting on a hot burner, (1) Pyrex measuring cup which was dive-bombed by a kamikaze peanut butter jar from the cabinet above -- which also almost took the life of (1) bowl of dough for sweet rolls (they were miraculously saved by the unflappable Sharon). The same jar of peanut butter fell from the same shelf on two separate occasions to wreak havoc, whaa--? But on to the photos, enough of these words....

CASH!

Tammy Wynette liked pigs, but who doesn't?

Athena, bigger than life (well, actually that is life-sized for her), holding Nike and both gleaming in 24-carat gold.

Sh, the government is trying to think! This is one of the fine books in the government info collection at the library where Sharon works. In December 1972 the Man had no way of detecting marijuana in blood or urine, but it looks like there were steps taken to change that. We've come a long way.

Over and out from Nashadelphia, the music city of brotherly love.

best weekend evah...

So, I got my self together and booked some tix to Nashville for last weekend, not only is my sweetie there but the Depps(!) were there too. So here is the picture tour of the weekend. It's not so great, I know, but it's better than nothin'. 

My pre-flight bus ride through the airport.....

I remembered too late to get a photo of Ben and Alexis and this is THE BEST I could do....


 

 We went to the Tennessee State Fair on Saturday, which was an experience unto itself. Apparently we missed the diving pigs (boo), but managed to soak up the local culture. 

Need I say more? Pay attention to the Farm Bill, it's bigger than you think!

 The result of government subsidies in agriculture: 900+ lb. pumpkins and starving people in Africa/Haiti (kidding, sort of...):

The TN State Fair, where motorcycles jump over (not much) macadam?

Last but not least, just when I was most unsure how God felt about me, this guy shows up:

Well, what can I say? Not much.

Despite the (lack of) photos, it was a great weekend.